Sun Country

by
John D. Biggs

For Miroslawa Biggs,
that she might find her own sun country.


Cast of Characters
RA!" #RA!"$%&
MA'$(%
C"AR%S
!$%C%
)*MA( +,
)*MA( +-
./$0AR !A1%R

Act $, Scene $

*2en on a bar. RA!", MA'$(%,
C"AR%S sit at the bar stage
left, nursing drin3s. Abo4e
them an old Budweiser cloc3
s2ar3les with garish reds and
blues. 0here is a sim2le table
and two chairs stage right and
the bac3 of the stage is
dar3, with only the hint of an
e5it gi4en by a set of dar3
beads that hang o4er it. Also
to the rear is a raised
2latform and a well lit
micro2hone stand and stool.
"ere the ./$0AR !A1%R sits at
curtain. 0he other, main e5it,
is right. 0he atmos2here of
the 2lace is dead and
,
desolate. 0he three are the
only 4isible 2atrons but as
the 2lay 2rogresses, sounds
come from the bac3 of the
stage, gentle ras2ings that
sound li3e mice. 0his effect
may be achie4ed by hanging
hea4y ob6ects on the o22osite
side of the walls, which
should sim2ly be brushed at
random times, at the
director7s discretion.. 0he
.uitar !layer begins, 2ic3ing
out 8$7m So onesome $ Could
Cry8 with no 4ocals. 0he sound
of the guitar is low and
slowly dies out, along with
the s2ot, as the characters
begin to s2ea3.
Ral2hie is the oldest and most
u2beat of the bunch, but not
by much. "e is at least forty,
and wears an old 09shirt and
faded 6eans. Ma5ine is a wiry
woman with short hair and
sun3en features. She wears a
6eans 6ac3et, old glo4es, and
loose shorts. Finally, Charles
is a rough character, though
he is almost rendered non9
threatening by the des2eration
with which he tries to show
his strength. 0he .uitar
!layer wears a 4est and
whate4er else fits him.
RA!"$%:
$7m going down south, soon as $7m able. *r west. *r any
damn direction $ can go. 1ou thin3 $7m 3idding now, boyo7s,
but no such luc3. 1ou7ll be rid of me one of these fine
mornings. 1ou7ll wal3 into this old 2lace and find my seat
co4ered in dust and eaten by cobwebs.
MA'$(%:
;Course, who7ll buy the drin3s, Ral2hie<
-
RA!"$%:
Ain7t none of my business who buys the drin3s. Ain7t
none of nobody7s business. As soon as $7m gone, somebody
else will s=uee>e their nether chee3s right into this old
seat and order u2 the days round. 1ou7ll see. 1ou boyo7s
won7t go a day without your Beam. And $7ll be gone, soa3ing
in sun and li4ing it u2. $7ll send you all a 2ostcard, one
of those ones with the beach on it< 1ellow sun u2 there,
yellow sand< Blue, blue water. i3e those lights u2 there,
o4er the stage. Bluer, though. Dee2 blue. 1ou7ll 6ust eat it
u2.
C"AR%S:
1ou ain7t going.
RA.:
Sto22ing me<
C"AR%S:
1ou wouldn7t go.
RA.:
(o, lie, boyo, no lie. $7ll be gone flying down the
road sooner7n nothing flat. 1ou see.
)hy don7t you ta3e off the 6ac3et, Ma5ine<
MA.:
Don7t suit me.
C".:
Don7t suit you to ta3e off the 6ac3et. $t has to be
ninety fi4e for Christ7s sa3e out there. $n here it ain7t no
better. And the glo4es...
MA.:
$ need some cream.
C".:
For what.
MA.:
)or3 cha22ed them. 0hey hurt.
Anyways, $7m cold. .ot chills. )omanly thing.
RA.:
?
Suits you, suits me. Another slug, Charlie<
C".:
$ guess. )hen7s Boss come in<
Ral2h 2ours Charlie another
glass of Jim Beam.
RA.:
(ot till tonight, when it gets u2 and e5citing. 0ill
then we got this whole bottle, and a cou2le of it7s
brothers, to oursel4es.
MA.:
$ am cold. Anybody else cold<
C".:
$7m fine.
RA.:
Bit of a chill. (ot much, though.
0a3e a swig of this, Ma5ine. )arm you u2 real right.
MA.:
Don7t want no more.
RA.:
Biting<
MA.:
(aw, stomach7s fine. Just don7t want anymore. !iece get
off wor3 soon< *n account a that 2iece said he7d come by a
little later. "e told me that. )hat time is it<
RA.:
0wo to two.
C".:
Shit, ain7t e4en. 0en minutes till.
RA.:
0hat7s what my watch says. 0wo to two.
C".:
$ set mine by the 2hone. $ 3now it7s right. 0wo to two,
my ass.
@
MA.:
So he7ll be here soon. .ets off at three. An hour to
wait.
C".:
1ou7re shi4ering, Ma5ine.
MA.:
Just cold, $ guess. .imme another hit, Ral2hie. Might
hel2 a little.

Ral2hie 2ours again.
C".:
)hat do you want with !iece< 1ou hardly 3now the boy.
MA.:
Body gets curious.

0here is a lull. Ma5ine
drin3s.
1ou ain7t really going to go, are you Ral2hie< (ot
really<
RA.:
$7m loo3ing into it. Just as soon as old Mary gets
hitched $7m off and out of here. (ot more alimony, no more
Ral2hie.
MA.:
1ou going west<
RA.:
Sure. as Aegas, 0ia6auna, os Angelee>. )hole deal,
out there. 1ou 3now what they say< 0hey say that on your way
out west< *ut towards as Aegas< 0he whole 2lace is lit u2
li3e sunrise, e4en at three in the morning. All desert out
there, and the closer you get to the big %l Aee< )ell, the
bigger and brighter e4erything gets. (o stars in the s3y,
out there, because all the stars is on the ground. And they
got good stea3 dinners for a finn and a good show for a
dollar and slot machines li3e you wouldn7t belie4e. 1ou
could do things, ma3e money down there< Just doing no wor3.
And wal3ing around, under all them lights< Big, big lights,
B
signs that are win3ing at you a hooting at you to come on
in< i3e hea4en, they say, or closest to it that side of the
Mississi22i.
MA.:
1ou ain7t going. Sure. Charlie, he was right. 1ou
ain7t.
RA.:
1ou7re shi4ering li3e a short hair in winter. )hat7s
wrong<
MA.:
Maybe $ need to go in bac3.
C".:
1ou7re staying right here, Ma5ine.
MA.:
$7ll be right bac3. !romise. Just need to go to the
ladies. Just got to go bac3 there to the ladies. Boss7 got
the 3ey, bac3 there< B9b9behind the b9bar.
RA.:
.i4e her the 3ey, Charlie.
C".:
$ won7t. $t7s a damn waste. )e all got reasons to go
bac3 there, she7s got no reason.
RA.:
$7ll get it then.
Mo4e out, there, boyo.
C".:
Don7t ma3e me rough you.
Ral2hie reaches behind the bar
and 2ulls out a ring of 3eys.
"e hands them the Ma5ine who
loo3s at them dully.
MA.:
Sure Boss won7t mind<
RA.:
(ot if you don7t ma3e a mess, he won7t.
C
MA.:
"old my coat, would you, Charlie<
C".:
!ut the stin3ing thing u2 on the bar. $t7s a damn
shame...
MA.:
$f !iece comes, call for me, would you<
RA.:
Sure, Ma5ine.
Ma5ine stands for a moment and
loo3s into her small 2urse.
0hen she mo4es into the
bac3stage dar3ness and 2asses
through the beaded curtain.
0he two left at the bar are
silent until the beads sto2
rattling. 0hen Ral2hie coughs.
Ain7t no business of mine.
C".:
Ain7t right.
RA.:
Ain7t no business of mine.
"ow7s your bi3e<
C".:
$ mean she7s wasting money, there. And she7s 3illing
herself, that7s for sure. $ seen a 3id once who did that. "e
got so s3inny you could see through him almost.
RA.:
"ow7s your bi3e<
C".:
"uh< Bad off.
Chain7s rusted. .ot to get a new one. And $ got to 2ay
off her car. And she 3ic3ed me out, 3now that, Ral2hie< *ut
on the street.
RA.:
D
1ou told us.
C".:
Right on the street. $ was sitting there on my ass with
my 6eans and shirts all around me li3e $ was a fuc3ing
chic3en in a nest and she7s 6ust in there smiling ha22y
as...
Jesus, that ain7t nothing you do to a guy. $f $ weren7t
li3e $ am< $f $ didn7t ha4e to 3ee2 out of trouble, $7d a
gone in there and smac3ed her one, right across the face.
i3e $ did the first time. Bruised so easily. 0here7d be
your fuc3ing blue as the ocean, Ral2hie, right under her
eye.
RA.:
%asy, boyo.
C".:
(aw, shitE $ don7t ha4e two fuc3ing =uarters to 2ut
some gas in the tan3 and she7s got my stereo and all that...
RA.:
0ried getting it bac3<
C".:
$ said, $ ain7t got no money.
RA.:
)hat7s that got to do with anything<
C".:
)here the fuc3 am $ su22osed to 2ut all that stuff<
"uh<
RA.:
1ou got a bed in my 2lace. Just 2ut it under the bed.
%asy, Charlie. 1ou7re gonna brea3 that bottle if you 3ee2
twiddlin7 it so. )hat7s your 2igeon say<
At this 2oint the .uitar
!layer comes bac3 on stage
from the bac3. "e sets u2
during the silence as Charlie
F
2uts down the bottle, and then
begins to 2lay a =uic3,
6arring blues in a minor 3ey.
%m 9 Am 9 BD should do it,
with a 6angle of notes in
between.
C".:
0hree more wee3s and $7m off 2arole. 0hree more wee3s.
0hat7s when $7d go out west, that7s for sure. And $ didn7t
e4en do what they said.
RA.:
Sure.
C".:
Didn7t. Swear to god. "ell...
Just...
RA.:
1ou called her<
C".:
Fuc3 ;er.
RA.:
1ou called her, Charlie<
C".:
... right in the ear, $ gotta tell ya, she ain7t no
woman. Don7t e4en 3now how $ got into her. (ow the garage
won7t ta3e me bac3 on account of a 4al4e co4er $ fuc3ed u2,
and it wasn7t e4en my fault, and she7s got all my tools.
RA.:
Guiet down.
C".:
$ am fuc3ing =uiet.
RA.:
Just =uiet down.
C".:
.imme a snoot, Ral2hie. $7m =uiet.
RA.:
H
Don7t thin3 you should ha4e anymore...
C".:
.imme a snoot.
RA.:
1ou gonna stay =uiet< Boss ain7t gonna li3e it one bit
if you rough the 2lace u2 tonight when the rest of them come
in.
C".:
Boss my ass. "e ain7t coming for...
$ said $7d be fuc3ing =uiet. Come on, Ral2hie.
RA.:
%asy...
C".:
Jesus Christ, you ain7t got a lic3 of res2ect for me.
0hat7s you7re 2roblem. $7m your fuc3ing boyo, and you don7t
e4en 3now what a boyo is...
i3e the damn 2igeon. Charles, this, Charles, li3e $7m
in school or something. $ did my time fair and easy and
they7re still hastling me. $ don7t need it, Ral2hie...
Ral2hie, you listening at me< "ear< $ don7t need what
they7re gi4ing me. $ really don7t need that shit and if...
RA.:
1ou better lea4e. Boss7ll blame me if you get u2 and
off again.

Charlie stands and starts the
lea4e.
C".:
Jesus Christ, Ral2hie, Jesus....
"e starts for the door, turns
towards the bac3, and then
comes bac3 to the seat. 0he
blues sto2s.
$7ll be =uiet.
RA.:
,I
$ ain7t scolding you. 1ou7re li3e a whi22ed...
C".:
$ said $7d be fuc3ing =uiet. (ow get off it all
already.
RA.:
1ou sure<
C".:
Fuc3 you.
RA.:
Charlie, $ ain7t fooling. $7d loose my 6ob.
C".:
Fuc3 you, again. 0his ain7t a 6ob.
Charlie loo3s at Ral2hie, who
is stone9faced.
$7m sure.
RA.:
0a3e another snoot.
C".:
$ don7t want one now.
RA.:
Suit yourself.
C".:
1ou ain7t really going west, are you.
RA.:
Sure $ am. Far out west. )hen $ got a 3itty stashed,
$7m 2ulling u2 and heading out. Say they got 2laces in os
Angelee> where you don7t need too much money. *r $ could
li4e in 0ia6uana, down there they ain7t got no need for
money. 0e=uila down your throat and woman for a =uarter,
down there, at night< 1ou7d better belie4e it. And $7d go u2
north< /2 to San Francisco< $7d li4e u2 there maybe. *2en a
tattoo sho2 or a bi3e sho2 or something<
,,
C".:
1ou ain7t really...
RA.:
Bet your sweet ass $ am.
C".:
1ou gonna send for me<
RA.:
*n account a what<
C".:
1ou gonna send for me< 0ell me where you are< $7ll come
down and $ can hel2 you in the sho2, you 3now. !retty good
2lace to wor3, $ thin3. And $ could hel2 you<
RA.:
Soon as $ get settled out there, $ won7t be thin3ing a
hair of you. Maybe a year later, when $7m biting into a
mango< 1ou seen them, they7re 3inda green, red< .ot a
2e22ery taste to them< )ell, when $7m biting down on one of
those, $7ll say to my self: )hat7s old Charlie doing< Better
dro2 him a 2ostcard from out here. Maybe call him u2. "e can
come on down and 4isit...
0hen $7d 2ic3 my teeth, on account of that those
mangoes get stringy sometimes if you bite them wrong. A wee3
later $7d write you, when $ got it into my head to.
C".:
1ou swear<
RA.:
*n what<
C".:
0hat you7ll call<
RA.:
1ou ain7t got a 2hone.
C".:
But $ will.
RA.:
!ost card. Real 2retty 2ost card.
,-
C".:
1ou ain7t lying<
RA.:
About what<
C".:
About going<
RA.:
(aw, $ ain7t lying.
0here is a lull. 0he .uitar
!layers tunes and e5its
center.
C".:
"ell, $ don7t e4en need you to send for me. $7ll be
going out there myself.
RA.:
1ou thin3<
C".:
Sure. Just u2 and lea4e one of these days. .et a new
chain for my bi3e, fi5 the carb. $ can do it. And $7m out of
here, li3e a blue strea3. .oodbye, downtown, goodbye
$llinois, goodbye e4erybody. "ell, $7ll be calling for you
before you e4en set foot in California.
0he 2igeon says $7m doing 2retty good, so $7ll be out
of here. Just need some =uiet, fi5 things u2 for myself.
0hen $7ll beat you to California, count on that shit.
RA.:
)ho says $7m going to California<
C".:
1ou did. Said you7re going to %l ay, and all that.
RA.:
Might not e4en go to California. Another hit<
C".:
1eah.
Ral2hie 2ours another drin3
,?
and lights a cigarette.

RA.:
Might 6ust go south, Florida. Awful humid, but $7ll
manage. i4e out there, oranges when $ want them. *ranges,
boyo, si>e of your head. "ell, si>e of my nuts. Swear to
.od, now that would be li4ing. Read a boo3 once, about wine.
Something li3e that. About this old family 6ust riding
across the 2rairies and shit. Read it on account of the
co4er. And they said California is the .arden of %den. But $
don7t 3now. De2ends on how $ feel. $ might head west and
turn around and head south. %4erything would be fine, then,
that7s for sure. (ew *rleans, Atlanta...
C".:
1ou7ll be going to France ne5t.
$ thought you said you7re going to California for sure.
RA.:
Anywhere they got sun, year round. Anywhere where they
got fruit on the tree and a little water that you can di2
yourself into. Anywhere li3e that $ can get my claws into.
0hat7s the 2lace for me. Don7t ha4e to be California, but
that7d be one 2lace $ could go. Just as soon as she gets
hitched again, and $7m a free man.
C".:
Just go.
RA.:
Doesn7t wor3 li3e that. 0hey got courts and 2eo2le who
ta3e care of that stuff. $f $ s3i22ed out $7d be hounded
rest of my life. (o, $ want to go o4er to California free
from it all o4er here. First thing $7m going to do< Jnow
what it is<
C".:
$ don7t.
RA.:
Jnow what it is< .oing to get so drun3 it hurts, and
when $ wa3e u2, $ ain7t e4en going to remember her face.
She7s going to come u2 and 4isit me some time, long time
,@
from now, $7ll 6ust wal3 right 2ast her. $ won7t e4en
remember who she was. She7ll ha4e to turn right bac3 around.
She won7t ha4e no 2lace to stay.
C".:
0hat7s what $ ought to do. First $ got to get my stereo
bac3, though. .et the chain fi5ed, get this damn 2igeon off
my bac3. $ can cross state lines after 2arole7s o4er. A few
more wee3s...
RA.:
Sure, that7s what $ mean, boyo. .ot to cut the ro2es
that are holding you down around here and 6ust fly, boyo. (o
co2s chasing you, no warrants, no fights with nobody about
no money you owe them. !ay my last months rent, start u2 the
car, and 6ust go. Read you got to go through desert to get
there. $ ain7t ne4er been in a desert, and that7d be a hell
of a ride 6ust by itself.
C".:
.ot to dri4e at night, you 3now.
RA.:
Sure. And $ heard too< $f you7re not careful< 1ou could
get into a bad wind storm, and it7ll 6ust 2it your
windshield li3e a sand hammer, the 3ind we used to clean off
the blac3 from the church downtown. 0hat7d be something to
see. Said a good storm can scour the 2aint off your liscense
2late, clean as 2olished sil4er.
C".:
$7ll ma3e it first. $7ll call for you.
RA.:
%ither way, some day, boy, $7ll 2ac3 u2 and 6ust go.
!iece ought to be here soon.
C".:
$t7s about two thirty.
RA.:
$7m going out for cigarettes. $f !iece comes in... you
going to be here<
C".:
)here the hell else $7m going to go<
,B
RA.:
Right...
Ral2hie e5its, right. 0he
.uitar !layer begins again,
this time 2laying 8)ildwood
Flower,8 a fol3 song a4ailable
in any fol3 anthology
#suggested source, Alan
oma57s Fol3 Songs of (orth
America.& Charlie is 4ery
ner4ous, mo4ing from the bar
to the table, right. "e lights
the co4ered candle in the
center of the table. A moment
later, !$%C% enters from the
right. !iece is a 4ery young
man at the most eighteen,
dressed in co4eralls and
carries a blac3, scuffed lunch
2ail. "e seems ner4ous, mo4ing
with gestures that are sudden
and s2ea3ing with a =uic3
tongue.
0he song should die at the
2oint when Ma5ine re9enters.

C".:
Ma5ine7s loo3ing for you.
!$%C%:
"i, Charlie.
C".:
She7s in bac3.
!$%C%:
*h.
C".:
And Ral2hie, he went out for cigs. "e7ll be bac3.
!$%C%:
,C
oo3s li3e a storm out there.
C".:
1eah<
!$%C%:
"ot, though. "umid li3e. !retty much u2 into ninety
fi4e or so. .oing to be bad, $ thin3.
C".:
And you with those damn co4eralls.
!$.:
$ could get acid or something s2lashed on me. $ got
6eans under. 0hey get hot, sure, but if you wear a t9shirt,
you get cooled down. Soa3s u2 the sweat or something.
C".:
Beam<
!$.:
(o, $ don7t want nothing. 0han3s, though. $s the ice
machine wor3ing<
C".:
Don7t thin3 so.
!$.:
;Cause Ral2hie said he7d try to get it wor3ing.
C".:
Ral2hie7ll be bac3.
RA.:
So he said he7d fi5 it<
C".:
"e told you he7d fi5 it, didn7t he.
!iece sits at the table.
Charlie mo4es to the bar.
)hy don7t you sit o4er here<
!$.:
My bac3.
,D
C".:
Shit on your bac3.
!$.:
$t hurts. $ need something behind it. $ can7t sit on a
stool.
Ma5ine was loo3ing for me<
C".:
1eah, before she went bac3. She7s been bac3 a long
time, though. Might want to chec3 on her. She7s...
!$.:
She7s...<
C".:
She7s... got shi4ers. $t loo3ed bad.
!$.:
Should $ go bac3 there<
C".:
$ wouldn7t.
!$.:
But should $<
C".:
i3e $ said...
!$.:
$ should.
Charlie is silent. 0hen,
almost as if answering !iece7s
=uestion, the beads shimmer
and Ma5ine enters. At this
2oint the 2hrase 8%nter
*2helia8 should be a22licable.
Ma5ine floats into the room,
her thin body gliding forward,
a half smile on her face. She
sits at the bar and loo3s at
!iece.
Ma5ine...
,F
MA.:
"i, !iece. "i, boy.
C".:
Shit, this is more than $ can ta3e.
MA.:
)hat<
C".:
(othing. Just, Christ...
!$.:
)hat is it, Charlie.
C".:
(othing, 6ust lea4e it...
!$.:
1ou *J, Ma5ine.
MA.:
Real fine. $ was in the red room, the one at the end of
the hall< 0urn left< $t7s right there< All red. Real 2retty
red, too, and there7s a sofa with mirrors on the armrests<
Real, real nice. And it smells li3e roses, 6ust li3e roses
should smell, fresh< *h, !iece...
C".#building in anger&:
1ou7re going to 3ill yourself.
MA.:
(o, Charlie, no...
C".:
1ou ma3e me sic3. 1ou really do. All that money. $f $
had that money. $f $ had that money...
MA.:
$t don7t cost nothing...
C".:
But it does, don7t it. Costs something 2retty hea4y.
oo3 at your fuc3ing arms, girl.
,H
MA.:
Doesn7t hurt.
!$.:
%asy, Charlie.
C".:
%asy, Charlie. $7m sic3 of that shit. $ really am.
%asy, Charlie. Just ease bac3. Jesus. $7m easy, $7m easy.
1ou, you Ma5ine, you ain7t. 1ou ain7t nowhere near.
!$.:
Charlie...
C".:
)hat are you going to do, 3id< .oing to gi4e me a
touch< .oing to 3noc3 me one real good<

!iece stands and Charlie mo4es
towards him, threatening.

1ou7re shooiting a twenty into your arm e4erytime you
go bac3 there. $ don7t care what you say. 0his 2lace doesn7t
wor3 li3e you say it does. $t7ll 3ill you.
Charlie e5its, right, storming
2ast !iece. 0here is a silence
as his lac3 on the stage is
slowly acce2ted. 0hen Ma5ine
coughs.
MA.:
"e7s going to hurt himself sometime.
!$.:
$ don7t 3now. "e7ll ta3e somebody down with him, that7s
sure.
MA.:
Ral2hie li3es him.
!$.:
$ guess.
-I
MA.:
!iece<
!$.:
1eah<
MA.:
Does it... this bother you, how $ am<
!$.:
(ot really.
MA.:
*n account of $7ll sto2 if you don7t li3e it.
!$.:
(o, Ma5ine. $f it7s... $ mean...
MA.:
Just that that room, bac3 there< $t7s so 2retty. $
don7t 3now when Boss set it u2 li3e that< "ow it is< But
it7s 6ust dar3 enough and 6ust light enough bac3 there< Just
enough of a flower smell, and 6ust enough noise, li3e fan
somewhere u2stairs< And it7s real nice for 6ust sitting,
and... feeling what you want and what you7re doing. Jnow<
!$.#ner4ously&:
$ guess.
MA.:
1ou e4er been in that room<
!$.:
(o.
MA.:
Just to the left.
!$.:
1eah, $ guess.
MA.:
1ou li3e wor3<
!$.:
)hat do you mean<
-,
MA.:
)as it good<
!$.:
.ood enough.
MA.:
Are you alright, !iece<
!$.:
Sure, fine. Fine. $ mean...
MA.:
)hat7s the matter<
!$.:
Just that $ don7t li3e... $ mean, it7s fine, but $
don7t li3e thin3ing about it bac3 there. Just something $
don7 t li3e to thin3 on too much. $ mean, what7s bac3 there<
MA.:
Ain7t nothing bad bac3 there. Just e4erything you need.
1ou ought to go bac3.
$ wonder what Charlie gets bac3 there.
!$.:
)hat do you mean<
MA.:
)hat would he get from going bac3 there< Can7t thin3 of
it...
!$.:
Maybe it7s =uiet for him.
MA.:
"ow do you mean<
!$.:
$ don7t 3now how $ mean. $ mean...
MA.:
1ou ought to go bac3, though. 1ou7ll... li3e it.
!$.:
--
$ might.
MA.:
$t7s li3e nothing you can get, outside<
!$.:
1eah, $ might go bac3.
MA.:
1our hands are sha3ing. *h, !iece. Come here, come one.
oo3 at me.
!$.:
My hands aren7t...
MA.:
)hat7s wrong<
!$.#stuttering, s2itting out the words&:
Ain7t nothing wrong. (othing that... $ mean ain7t
nothing at all wrong. Just sto2...
MA.:
Awww, !iece.
ittle tow9headed !iece. $nnoccent !iece.
Do you want to dance, !iece< Do you<
!$.:
0here isn7t any music.
MA.:
$ got music in my head, right now. Real easy music. A
nice walt>. Best $ heard. $ can hum it, and we can dance. Do
you want to< $t7ll calm you.
!$.:
$ don7t thin3 it7d be a good idea.
MA.:
Come one, !iece. Stand u2.
Ma5ine, still floating, stands
and ta3es !iece7s hand. She
2laces his other hand on her
waist and gets him into
-?
2osition. 0hen she smiles and
begins to hum. Slow at first,
it is really a tuneless walt>,
three9four time, notes
tumbling o4er one another with
6ust enough structure to allow
for dancing. 0hey start to
mo4e. ights fall all around
them, and they are lit.
!iece7s eyes are gla>ed and
dull as he mo4es. Ma5ine
begins to sing, gently, in
threeKfour time. $magine a
woman or a young girl alone in
a house singing to herself to
slee2. 0he tune is the least
im2ortant thing at this 2oint.
MA.:
After the dream is o49er
After the night is done
After the stars co4er o49er
After the lights are gone
After our lo4e is sweetest
After the old friends call
0hen you lea4e, my dearest
Af9ter the ball
After the night birds call9ing
After the moon glides low
After the sun has fallen
After the laughter goes
After our hearts a9flutter
!ass through the em2ty hall
0hen $7ll lo4e my dearest,
Af9ter the ball.
$ 3now what you want.
!iece<
$ said $ 3now what you want.
!$.:
"ell, e4erybody 3nows. *therwise they wouldn7t call me
what they call me.
MA.:
-@
See, you7re not ner4ous anymore. 1our hands aren7t
sweating. Do you want to<
!iece dashes his hands away
and wi2es them on his
co4eralls.
!$.:
$7m sorry, $ really, we7d best...
Ma5ine raises his hands again.
MA.:
Guiet. Just...
0here, bac3 into it.
1ou can get it bac3 there, you 3now. Somewhere. Just
what you want.
!$.:
Maybe $ really don7t want it.
MA.:
Maybe you do.
!$.:
$ mean, it7s something... it is something $ want, but
it ain7t, in a way.
MA.:
$ can gi4e it, too, you 3now. 1ou going to loo3 u2 at
me<
!$.#sur2rised&:
(o. $ mean, no, that wouldn7t be a good idea. $...
MA.:
0hen what do you want, !iece.
!$.:
Just, not what you7re thin3ing. Just something that
ain7t what you7re thin3ing. $ couldn7t go bac3 there. $ 6ust
couldn7t. $t wouldn7t wor3 for me, $ bet.
MA.:
1ou wouldn7t be here if it didn7t wor3 for you.
1ou 3now what7s bac3 there< %4erything 2erfect. )hen $
-B
sit down in that red room, e4erything $ do is 6ust 2erfect.
*nce, long time ago, before $ went straight for a while, $
got real confused. And $ remember ma3ing u2 a hit< Just
running around the 2lace, loo3ing for my hit< And then $
remember starting to 2ut it in. And $ reali>ed that $ was
shooting saccharine. $ could tell, because the whole bottle
was all o4er the floor. And $ had the needle in, ready to
2ush< And a dro2 of blood came u2 because it was a new 4ein<
And $ was about to shoot u2 with saccharine.
But that don7t ha22en bac3 there. %4erything you do is
right. *h, !iece, you got to 3now, $ mean it feels so
wonderful doing things and 3nowing that they7re right. So,
so right.
Ma5ine hums some more of the
walt>. !iece then s2ea3s,
three measures later.
!$.:
)e better sto2.
MA.:
)hat7s wrong< 1ou don7t li3e this<
!$.:
Just we better. Ral2hie7ll be here and...
MA.:
)hy<
!$.:
Ral2hie7ll be bac3, soon. So7ll Charlie.
MA.:
Charlie ain7t coming bac3.
!$.:
1ou don7t thin3<
MA.:
$ don7t. Anyway, we7d go in bac3. $7d be much better, a
hundred times better, bac3 there. Just li3e we were floating
in s2ace.
1ou going to 3iss me, !iece< $7ll 3iss you if you don7t
3now how.
-C
!$.:
!robably not.
MA.:
1our hands are sweaty again, but lea4e them right where
they are. $7m going to as3 again.
Are you going to 3iss me, !iece. Baby !iece< *r am $
going to 3iss you. %ither way, $ 3now you been waiting for
it.
!$.:
(o, $ don7t thin3 so.
$ don7t thin3 it would be a good idea. $ mean...
Ma5ine slides her head around
and mo4es her mouth toward
!iece7s. !iece turns his head.
Ma5ine dro2s her arms and
mo4es away. 0he stage is lit
again and !iece stands center,
alone. "e mo4es to the table
to the right and Ma5ine mo4es
to the bar.
"e whis2ers.

$7m sorry.
ights down.
Act $, scene ii

ights u2. Ma5ine is gone and
!iece is at the table, right.
A moment later Ral2hie enters
from the right, wearing a
tattered coat. "is hair is
wet. "e sha3es himself of an
smiles at !iece, who attem2ts
to smile bac3.

RA.:
Slow day, huh, boyo. Rains coming down in buc3ets out
there. Couldn7t find a store o2en for the life of me. "ad to
go running all o4er town.
!$.:
-D
%4erything7s closed<
RA.:
oo3s that way.
!$.:
Ma5ine7s in bac3 again. She said Boss called.
RA.:
)hat did he say<
!$.:
Don7t 3now, 6ust that he called.
RA.:
"e7ll be in soon enough. $ got to get that stage
cleaned u2. 0a3e a drin3, !iece. 1ou loo3 li3e you lost your
damn dog.
!$.:
Don7t feel li3e it.
Ral2hie goes behind the bar
and brings out a broom and a
dust2an. "e begins to clean
the floor, using broad
swee2ing motions. %ach swee2
should seem to 2unctuate the
character7s words.
Ral2hie<
RA.:
1eah, boyo<
!$.:
1ou going to be on the u2 and u2 with me< $f $ as3 you
something<
RA.:
Sure.
!$.:
)hat7s bac3 there<
-F
RA.:
Bac3 where<
!$.:
1ou 3now. Bac3 there.
RA.:
)hat ha4e you seen<
!$.:
$ don7t 3now. (ot what Ma5ine sees, that7s one thing
for sure.
RA.:
0hen why are you worried about it<
!$.:
$ 6ust... $ 6ust don7t understand it at all. Ma5ine
says she sees a red room. 1ou, $ don7t 3now what you see.
Charlie sees a street, sometimes, he says. "e says it7s
=uiet bac3 there. Me, $ loo3ed bac3 once but $ ne4er went
in. Been damn close to going in but $ ne4er did. $ don7t
3now why. )hat7s bac3 there, Ral2hie<
RA.:
A lot of things.
!$.:
Come on.
RA.:
$f $ told you $7d be lying. $t7s s2ecial, bac3 there.
)hat $ see isn7t what you see and what we see isn7t what
Charlie sees. Jind of li3e loo3ing through one of those...
3alidasco2es. Always different. Don7t matter who7s holding
it, you mo4e it a little, and you get something different.
0hat7s how it wor3s, bac3 there. )hate4er is...
!$.:
)hate4er is what<
-H
RA.:
)hate4er is im2ortant.
!$.:
$ don7t understand, $ mean, what7s...
RA.:
"ush a little, boyo. 1ou7ll 3now soon enough.
0here is a lull. Ral2hie
swee2s.
!$.:
$s this all there is<
RA.:
)hat do you mean<
!$.:
0his< $ go to wor3, come here. 0hat7s about it.
RA.:
Big =uestions today, loo3s li3e. 1ou7re starting to
worry me. .ot an itch in my bone.
Shit, boy, if this was all there is, $ wouldn7t be
tal3ing about going west, now would $.
!$.:
But you ain7t gone west.
RA.:
*n account $ ain7t started my tri2 yet. $7ll go, mar3
me, boyo.
!$.:
And Ma5ine. $s that all for her<
RA.:
)hat do you mean<
!$.:
1ou 3now. )ill she be li3e that, fore4er<
RA.:
Ain7t nobody can sto2 a 2erson from being what they
are. She7s going to be what she wants to be for as long as
she sees fit. Some day she7s going to come out of that red
?I
room of hers and she7s going to come out crying, and she7s
going to ha4e a needle in her hand and she7s going to dro2
it on the ground and crush it. 0hen maybe there7ll be a
change.
!$.:
0here ain7t a red room bac3 there. $74e loo3ed bac3
there, real =uic3< )hen Boss was here< $ loo3ed and there
wasn7t a red room bac3 there. 0hen Boss 2ulled me bac3 out.
.a4e me a drin3 and told me to 2lay darts. 0hat was the only
time $ saw Boss.
RA.:
"e comes and goes. "e7ll be here tonight, sure.
But there7s stuff bac3 there. Sure there is.
!$.:
0here7s a 2ool table and a s2rung sofa. 0hat7s all $
saw.
RA.:
1ou ain7t seeing it right, boyo. 1ou ain7t seeing it
right.
!$.:
$7m seeing what $7m seeing. 0here7s nothing bac3 there.
RA.:
Can7t say. Maybe it ain7t yours to see. But you7ll see
something. $t might not be bac3 there, but it7ll be
somewhere. Mar3 me, boyo. 1ou ain7t here for nothing.
!$.:
So something7s going to ha22en<
RA.:
Sure, something7s going to ha22en to e4erybody. (o
matter who you are. Something7ll ha22en.
!$.:
And what about Charlie<
RA.:
)hat about him<
!$.:
?,
$ mean, $ don7t 3now what $ mean... it7s 6ust...
"e says he7s seen a street. But he ain7t been bac3
there more than once. "e says it7s =uiet bac3 there, li3e
about two in the morning =uiet, where there7s nobody around.
)hat7s that got to do with anything<
RA.:
1ou don7t 3now how he wor3s too terrible well, now do
you, !iece...
$ saw somebody do a tric3 once. 0hey filled u2 a sin3
with water< And they s2rin3led 2e22er all o4er the water
till it was 6ust blac3. 0hen they too3 a bottle of washing
detergent and held it o4er the water and said: 8See that<
Swimming 2ool full of blac3s and whites.8 0hen they dro22ed
a dro2 of the detergent into the water and all that 2e22er
6ust ran away, lea4ing a big circle in the middle. 0hen they
said: 80hat7s what ha22ens when you 2ut a Jew in there.8 and
they were laughing to beat hell.,
(ow $ ain7t saying that was the 2ro2er idea, but some
2eo2le are 6ust li3e that, so there was truth in it
somewhere. !ut them in some2lace, no matter if they7re a Jew
or a blac3 or a white or whate4er, and e4erybody 6ust sli2s
away into a big circle around them. 0ruth is, Charlie7s one
of those 2eo2le, but he7s as fine a man as anybody else. So
whate4er ha22ens to him will maybe ma3e him see that big
circle around him. Someday, he7ll wal3 right out of there
and he7s going to wal3 out that door and find 6ust what he
wants.
!$.:
So e4en him< %4en for him it7ll get better<
RA.:
Can7t say. Might get better, might get worse. Sometimes
what7s bac3 there is e5actly what you want. 0hat7s the
2roblem. (obody really wants what they want. 0hey always
want something a little different. Maybe a little something
different. Something that ain7t going to gi4e them
e4erything, 6ust a taste of it. 0hat7s all some 2eo2le need.
!$.:
But $7m loo3ing and $7m loo3ing bac3 there, loo3ing for
what7s su22osed to be something good< All $ see is a 2ool
table. And a s2rung sofa.
$s that all there is< $s that 6ust all of it, for me<
?-
RA.:
(o, it gets better, !iece. $t gets a whole hell of a
lot better, if you 6ust let it.
)hat do you want, !iece<
!$.:
"ell, you 3now what they call me...
RA.:
(o, $ don7t thin3 you want a 2iece of ass.
!$.:
$ mean...
$ don7t 3now what to tell you. 0he guys at wor3 call me
!iece 6ust cause $ ain7t got any and you guys call me !iece
because $ told you $ wanted it.
RA.:
1ou7ll get what you want. $t7s coming. %4erything wor3s
out. !romise. Somehow it7ll wor3 itself out. 1ou ain7t here
for nothing.

Charlie enters right,
com2letely soa3ed.

C".:
Fuc3ing raining out there. .i4e me a drin3 before $ got
to bust some faces.
ights down.




Act $$, scene i


)hen it is dar3, the .uitar
!layer ta3es his seat and
begins to 2lay 8$7m So
onesome $ Could Cry8 again.
$t begins loud and as the
lights come to full, it dies
out. 0his 2rocess should be
slow and gentle. *2en on
??
Ma5ine and Charlie at the
table, Ral2hie at the bar, and
!iece sitting on the bar.
RA.:
And they got things they call 6um2ing beans down
there...
C".:
$ seen some already.
RA.:
"ell, those things are finer than anything you74e seen.
0hey got a little worm inside them. And when you get them
warm or 2ut them in the light< 0hey start to ho2 li3e water
on a warming s3illet. $ mean they7re little worms inside
these beans they grow. And they7re 6ust as li4ely as you
could want, when the s2rit7s in them. !ut them down and
they7ll be =uiet a minute and start 6um2ing, and then get
=uiet again.
C".:
"ad a cou2le, when $ was a 3id. 0hey ain7t nothing
s2ecial. $74e seen them before.
RA.:
Just e52laining to the rest of the crowd, Charlie, is
all. Don7t get wor3ed u2.
C".:
(ow that right there is 6ust what $7m tal3ing about. $
wasn7t wor3ed u2 at all. $ wasn7t 6um2ing on you or nothing,
and $ get that.
MA.:
1ou were being... contrary, Charlie. 0hat7s all.
C".:
Contrary< Big big words you7re using, Ma5ine.
!$.:
So what7d they loo3 li3e, Charlie.
C".:
)hat did what loo3 li3e<
?@
!$.:
0he beans.
C".:
*h, they were little and brown colored. 0hat7s all they
were. $ 3e2t them on my bedstand and they 3e2t me u2 all
night, 6ust 6um2ing and clic3ing away. $t was a 2ain in the
ass, mostly.
RA.
)hen $ get out of here...
C".:
$ been thin3ing, Ral2hie. 1ou74e been saying that and
saying that and while $ was out $ 6ust was thin3ing 8$ don7t
thin3 he7s e4er going anywhere.8 )hat do you thin3, Ral2hie.
And maybe you could shut u2 about California or Florida.
!$.:
)atch it, Charlie. "e7s 6ust tal3ing. Don7t do nothing
li3e that.
C".:
i3e what.
!$.:
Same thing as the 6um2ing beans. %5act same thing.
C".:
)hat are you tal3ing about<
!$.:
1ou were being contrary.
C".:
$7m trying to li4en things u2 around here. Dead li3e a
morgue around here. Swear to .od.
MA.:
Ma3e the best of it.
RA.:
?B
Just don7t worry your 2retty little head, Boyo. $7ll
get to the sun country in 2lenty enough time. Soon as it
sto2s raining, maybe. *r as soon as the sun comes u2
tomorrow. *ne morning you7re going to slide your sorry ass
out of bed and you7re going to go to wor3 and then come
here. And when you get here, ain7t going to be no me where a
me should be.
C".:
1ou said the e5act same thing three hours ago, and last
wee3, and last month, and last year. $t7s all the same. 1ou
ain7t lea4ing. (obody7s lea4ing.
!$.:
Ain7t true.
C".:
$s true.
Ma5ine stands =uietly and
starts to mo4e to the center
door. 0he .uitar !layer ta3es
the stage as she reaches the
door and begins to 2lay 80his
0rain8 #also from oma5&, only
with a much slower gait, much
li3e an old gos2el call.
!$.:
)here you going, Ma5ine.
MA.
$7m cold.
!$.:
1ou ain7t cold. .et bac3 here.
MA.:
$7ll be bac3.
C".:
1ou seeing this< et her go. $t doesn7t matter. She7s
ta3ing a fortune in that arm of hers. 0ell you what...
!$.:
Don7t let her, Ral2hie.
?C
MA.:
1ou really don7t want me to, !iece<
!$.:
)hat<
MA.:
1ou don7t want me to go bac3 there.
!$.:
(o.
C".:
)hat does it matter<
RA.:
Guiet, Charlie.
C".:
"ell...
Charlie downs a shot.
MA.:
$7ll be bac3. $ 2romise. $7m 6ust cold, that7s all. $
got to lie down.
!$.:
Don7t...

Ma5ine slides through the
curtain. 0he guitar dies down
but does not sto2.
)hat7s wrong with her, Ral2hie<
RA.:
"ow am $ su22osed to 3now<
!$.:
1ou said...
RA.:
$ 3now some 2eo2le, but li3e $ told you before,
sometimes 2eo2le need what7s bac3 there. And sometimes
what7s bac3 there is 6ust right.
?D
!$.:
)hat7s bac3 there<
C".:
.o loo3.
!$.:
)hat7s bac3 there<
RA.:
$sn7t a way we can tell you. $t7s a 2ool table and a
s2rung sofa.
At this 2oint Ral2hie is
saddened by what he says and
Charlie filled with glee.
!iece, always and in all ways
the youngest, stares
2leadingly at them both. By
the time they e5it, both
Charlie and Ral2hie should be
ner4ous in their manner,
Ral2hie the most.
C".:
$t ain7t. $74e seen it.
!$.:
)hat7s bac3 there<
C".:
A red room< Maybe a red room, huh, 3id.
$7m getting something to eat. )ant something, Ral2hie.
RA.:
$ might.
Coming, !iece< 1ou hungry<
!$.:
)hy won7t you tell me<
$f you lea4e, $7m going bac3 there.
RA.:
Coming, !iece<
?F
!$.:
)hat is it<
C".:
Boy, if we could tell you we would. )e7re here, it7s
here, and we got to li4e or die with that. (ow shut your
hole and come on if you want to eat. %4erything is here and
we got to acce2t it.
!$.:
)ell, wait, let me get my lunch buc3et...
(o, $ ain7t going. 1ou7re 6ust fooling with me.
C".:
Suit yourself.
!$.:
"ear me< $ ain7t lea4ing. And $ might 6ust go bac3
there.
C".:
$t7d be for the best, count on that.
Charlie and Ral2hie e5it,
right. 80his 0rain8 begins to
rise in s2eed and intensity.
At this 2oint a recording
should ste2 in as the s2eed
necessary soon will be
unattainable by a guitarist.
!iece sits at the bar and
2ours a drin3. 80his 0rain8
rises in tem2o.
!$.:
1ou going to sto2 me<
Are you<
Cause you can7t, you 3now. 1ou can7t, you can7t, you
can7t.."ear me Charlie<
!iece 2auses. 0he music rises
and the cloc3 bu>>es.
Ma5ine<
Ma5ine, are you still bac3 there.
Ma5ine, $7m going to come in.
!iece stands.
?H
Ma5ine<
0hey left. 0hey won7t tell me. Ma5ine<
Ma5ine, $ want to dance.
Again a rise in tem2o. 0he
lights fall to a single s2ot
in the center of the stage.
!iece is tem2orarily in
dar3ness and he mo4es to the
light.
Ma5ine<
$7m coming bac3 there. $f you don7t come out, $7m
coming it. $7ll do it, too. $ will.
And $7ll tal3 to Boss. "e7ll tell me what7s u2. )hat7s
going on. And you can7t hide it from me. )hat7s bac3 there,
Ma5ine.
Because Boss7ll be here and he7ll tell me. 1ou might
fool me, and Ral2hie might fool me and Charlie might fool
me, but $ 3now. $t ain7t li3e you say. $t ain7t.
%4erything7s different than what you say. $7ll lea4e,
Ma5ine. )on7t e4er come bac3. $7ll mo4e out of town. $ can
do that, you 3now. $ can...
Ma5ine<
Raise tem2o. )oman +, and
)oman +-, dressed in as little
as the director deems fit,
enter from the center. 0hese
women should not be 2ut on
dis2lay. 0hey should by the
acme of youth7s yearning.
0aste is at a 2remium at this
2oint.
i3e a dance, !iece should
follow these women with his
body as they enter his circle
of light. 0hey must draw him
towards the center door. At
this 2oint, 80his 0rain 8
should be a 6arring caco2hony
with only the barest outline
of the original song below.
And, as the women mo4e, there
should be the sound of a high
@I
guitar string brea3ing, and a
continuation of the song. 0he
women should mo4e to a
culminating 2oint, drawing,
with sinuous motions, !iece
towards the center door. And
when the guitar reaches fe4er
2itch, there is the am2lified
sound of the beads 2arting and
Ma5ine enters from the center.
!iece falls to his 3nees.
0here is a silence as Ma5ine
falls to him in the circle of
light.0he women mo4e into the
dar3ness.

$ was going to go bac3.
$ was...
And they left, and they 3new $ had to go bac3. $ as3ed
to many =uestions, didn7t $, Ma5ine< Didn7t $<
MA.:
Sweet, sweet, innocent !iece.
ights fall.

Act $$, scene ii
ights u2 on !iece and Ma5ine
at the table. !iece7s head is
on his arms and Ma5ine stro3es
his hair. She smo3es a
cigarette with her other hand.
Both are agitated, and
Ma5ine7s hands sha3e.
!$.:
)hy wouldn7t they tell me...
MA.:
Don7t worry about it. isten, !iece< isten...
!$.:
$ 6ust wanted to 3now and they left and it 6ust... it
6ust ha22ened.
@,
MA.:
$t does that sometimes. Sometimes you ha4e to go to it
and sometimes it 6ust ha22ens.
!$.:
$ felt it coming, through the door< And $ loo3ed and it
was dar3 and they... they were there and it was...
MA.:
)hat<
!$.:
(othing. Don7t worry, Ma5ine. $ got to 2ull myself
together.
MA.:
$t was what, !iece<
!$.:
(othing.
MA.:
$t was 2erfect, wasn7t it. Just li3e $ told you.
1ou got a loo3 li3e it was in your eyes. $ can tell...
!$.:
(o, not 2erfect. $t could ne4er be 2erfect. $t7s 6ust
li3e something ga4e way in my head and it ha22ened. (ot
good, not bad. But...
MA.:
Scary<
!$.#=uietly&:
(o.
MA.:
1ou want to lea4e<
!$.:
$ can7t, now.
@-
MA.:
Sure you can.
!$.:
1ou 3now $ can7t. (ow $ ha4e to come bac3. Just li3e
you do. Just li3e Ral2hie and Charlie. Boss7ll come in
tonight, and $7ll be here. Boss7ll lea4e, and $7ll lea4e.
And tomorrow< After wor3< $7ll be here. 0hat7s how it wor3s,
doesn7t it.
MA.:
Don7t always wor3 li3e that.
!$.:
But it will. Don7t you see< Don7t you< $t 6ust ha22ens
to you. $7m here, and $7m here fore4er.
MA.:
Don7t tal3 li3e that, !iece.
%4en Charlie can7t stay here for long, and he7s got
something bac3 there that he really needs.
!$.:
(o, $ mean... $t7s true. 1ou 3now it. Bac3 there< $
can7t lea4e it anymore.
MA.:
1ou can.
!$.:
1ou can7t.
MA.:
$t7s different for me. $...
%nter Charlie and Ral2hie,
carrying bags containing food.
Both enter =uietly and watch
as Ma5ine lights another
cigarette. 0hen she stands.

1ou left him.
C".:
@?
"ate to brea3 it to you, Ma5ine, but he ain7t ours to
lea4e.
MA.:
1ou left him and he...
RA.:
"ad to ha22en.
!$.:
)hat is this<
C".:
Did you li3e it<
!$.:
)hat< i3e what<
-
RA.:
Guiet, Charlie. Just eat.
C".:
Jid 6ust comes out of the wringer for the first time. $
want to 3now what he thought of it.
!$.:
)hat am $ su22osed to thin3, huh< )hat the hell...
MA.:
Just sit down, !iece. Don7t listen to him.
C".:
)as it good, !iece< Did you get some<
!$.:
$ don7t ha4e too ta3e this...
C".:
*f course you don7t.

!$.:
$7ll lea4e.
MA.:
!iece...
@@
!$.:
$7ll lea4e and $ won7t come bac3. $ don7t ha4e to, now
do $. 0hin3 about it. $ don7t ha4e to. $ could wal3 out that
door right there and ne4er come bac3. 0he bell could ring at
2unch9out time and $ could get off my bac3 out from under
whate4er shit $ was wor3ing on and 6ust go home. %4er thin3
of that<
MA.:
Come on, !iece...
!$.:
(o, $ don7t need this.
C".:
1ou sure<
!$.:
Fuc3 the lot of you.
As if trying to be a
restraint, Ma5ine grabs
!iece7s arm and he 2ulls free.
Ral2hie stands u2 to sto2 him
but !iece e5its. Ral2hie mo4es
to the door.
C".:
)here7re you going, boyo.
RA.:
*ut.
C".:
*ut<
RA.:
*ut.
%5it Ral2hie. Ma5ine sits at
the table and Charlie 2ours
another drin3.
MA.:
)hat7s the matter with you.
@B
C".:
Don7t you start with me now.
MA.:
$7m 6ust as3ing. )hy did you ha4e to do that<
C".:
"e had to find out some time. 1ou 3now that.
MA.:
But you don7t ha4e to be li3e that.
C".#building&:
$ don7t ha4e to be li3e that< i3e what<
$ 3now $ don7t ha4e to be li3e that. (obody should be
li3e $ am. But thin3 about it, Ma5ine. 0hin3 about it. )hy
are you li3e you are<
MA.:
Smac3.
C".:
0hat7s it<
MA.:
0hat7s it.
C".:
$ don7t belei4e a word of that bullshit. 1ou could 3ic3
it if you wanted to. $ 3now you could. *r maybe you don7t
3now that, and that7s why you7re here. Maybe that7s why $7m
here.
MA.:
1ou7re 6ust going to start it u2 again. 1ou7ll get
angry because somebody says something and you7ll 6ust 3ee2
going.
C".:
$ do it because $ ha4e to. $f $ don7t stic3 u2 for
myself who the fuc3 will< )ho stic3s u2 for you. 1our Johns<
MA.:
Charlie, you don7t e4en say that. 1ou 3now $ ain7t li3e
that.
@C
C".:
"ow do $ 3now that. 1ou7re all o4er !iece, there. "e
2ays good<
MA.:
Fuc3 you. Just fuc3 you. $ mean... you ma3e me sic3.
C".:
ot of 2eo2le tell me that.
$ ma3e them sic3. My girl said that before she 3ic3ed
me out. Jnow why she 3ic3ed me out< Because of another guy.
$ can tell. Found shit around the house. $ could tell. So
$7m gone and she7s got somebody else. All my stuff in a bo5
cause $ ma3e her sic3.
MA.:
$t7s true.
C".:
)hy< )hy, Ma5ine. )hy do $ ma3e 2eo2le sic3< "uh< Am $
li3e your little =uarter ounce that you 6ust shoot u2 and it
ma3es you sha3e and free>e< Am $ li3e that< Am $ a shithead
that stole some Social Security chec3s< Am $ some shithead
that has a woman who threw him out onto the street< Am $
some shithead that can7t get his bi3e wor3ing to get out of
this fuc3ing 2lace< $s that what7s ma3ing you sic3 about me<
MA.:
$ didn7t say...
C".:
1ou did say it. 1ou said $ ma3e you sic3. 1ou 3now as
good as me that neither of us wants to be here. $ would
lea4e in a second if $ 3new how. 0hin3 Ral2hie7ll e4er
lea4e<
MA.:
$ thin3 he will.
C".:
)ell you7re fooling yourself. $ remember how he used to
be, e4en before you got here. "e was 6ust li3e me. "e7s 6ust
mellowed or some shit. 1ou, $ remember how you used to be.
(ic3el whore...
MA.:
@D
Don7t...
C".:
$t7s true.
MA.:
$t was the only way. $ needed to buy the stuff before $
came here. (ow $ don7t need to. $t7s li3e .od did it...
C".:
But now that you got this old hole, you don7t ha4e to
2ut out anymore. /nless it7s to !iece.
MA.:
1ou 3now that7s not true. !iece is something s2ecial.
"e7s... innocent.
C".:
$nnocent my...
MA.:
1ou could learn something from him. 1ou could learn how
to be... nice.
And don7t you e4en say anything, Charlie. Don7t e4en.
Because you got your whole head so far u2 your own ass that
you thin3 it belongs there now. 1ou7re stuc3, Charlie. 1ou
got to see that.
C".:
*f course $7m stuc3. My bi3e7s out of order. 0hat7s
about it.
MA.:
$t7s more than that...
C".:
1ou don7t thin3 $ 3now that< $ 3now that sure as $ 3now
that !iece7ll be bac3. Sure as $ 3now that Ral2hie7ll ne4er
lea4e that seat. Sure as $ 3now that Boss7ll ne4er come
tonight, or the ne5t night, and sure as $ 3now that as soon
as you get cold you7re going to go bac3 there and sit down
on your couch and shoot another twenty dollar bill into your
arm.
MA.:
0here7re reasons $ do this.
@F
C".:
1eah<
MA.:
Reasons.
C".:
)hat are they.
MA.:
$t hel2s me mo4e. And $ 3now, $ 3now in my heart< *ne
day $7m going to loo3 at what $7m doing and $7m going to
sto2. And $7m going to be able to lea4e this 2lace. But for
3now it7s what $ need. $f $ didn7t ha4e it $7d be some2lace
a whole hell of a lot worse.
C".:
1ou hear yourself<
MA.:
$ hear myself. $ hear myself fine. Bac3 there you don7t
ha4e to worry about a dirty needle. Bac3 there you don7t
ha4e to worry about them doctoring the batch. Bac3 there you
don7t ha4e to worry about 2eo2le 2ic3ing on you or 3ee2ing
you bac3< $t7s 2erfect. But one day $ 3now that $7ll lea4e.
$7m sure of it.
C".:
$t7ll ne4er ha22en.
MA.:
0hat7s why you ma3e me sic3.
C".:
1ou7re getting 2ale agian.
MA.:
$ need a cigarrette.
C".:
Sure.
MA.:
0hat7s all $ need.
@H
C".:
Sure.
Ma5ine lights a cigarrette.
ights down.


Act $$, Scene iii

ights u2. %nter !iece and
Ral2hie. Ma5ine sits at the
table and Charlie is gone.
As they enter, Ma5ine stands.

MA.:
1ou found him.
RA.:
$ wasn7t loo3ing for him.
MA.:
1ou *J, !iece<
!$.:
;Course.
MA.:
1ou can7t let Charlie bother you. "e7s 6ust...
!$.:
$ 3now.
RA.:
Slug, boyo<
!iece nods. Ral2hie 2ours a
drin3.
1ou 6ust found out how this 2lace wor3s, that7s all.
!$.:
But $ don7t...
)here7s Charlie<
MA.:
(aw, he didn7t go in bac3. "e went out. "e 6ust got
BI
tired of being here.
!$.:
"e didn7t finish his lunch.
MA.:
(o, he didn7t. 1ou going to be *J<
!$.:
;Course.
MA.:
1ou got a sad loo3.
!$.:
$t ain7t sad, it7s 6ust tired. $7m tired of being here.
MA.:
1ou7ll get used to it. 1ou7ll li3e it, after a while.
!$.:
$s that true, Ral2hie<
RA.:
Can7t say.
!$.:
(o, Ral2hie, 6ust tell me. (one of this stuff anymore.
1ou74e been riding around all this for too long.
RA.:
$ can7t say. Charlie doesn7t li3e it, $ don7t thin3.
!$.:
Doesn7t he<
RA.:
Just loo3 at him. But that7s 6ust how Charlie is. Some
2eo2le are born li3e that. i3e $ said. Some 2eo2le got a
circle around them. "e don7t li3e them, and they don7t li3e
him. $t7s 2lain as that.
!$.:
Me<
B,
RA.:
1ou, you7re somebody that7s going to lea4e. $f you
stay... naw, there ain7t no way you could stay.
MA.:
"e7s right.
!$.:
1ou thin3<
MA.:
$ thin3.
%nter Charlie, wet and
shi4ering. "e is unusually
ha22y, yet it seems forced and
alien.
C".:
1ou thin3 what.
MA.:
(othing, Charlie.
C".:
$ ain7t worried about it.
!$.:
)here7d you go<
C".:
)here7d you go<
!$.:
!laces.
C".:
$ ain7t going to 2ress you.
RA.:
Just sit down, Charlie.
C".:
)hat<
B-
RA.:
(othing. (eed something<
C".:
Are those towels still bac3 there<
RA.:
Bar rags< Sure.
C".:
0oss me one.
So what did $ miss.
RA.:
(othing.
C".:
$ thin3 $ can get the bi3e wor3ing. $ went down to loo3
at it.
RA.:
1ou thin3<
C".:
;Course $ thin3. $ too3 a loo3 at it. (othing that new
2oints wouldn7t fi5. 0he oil is staying high and there7s gas
in the tan3. $f $ sold the stereo...
)hy7re you loo3ing at me, Ma5ine.
MA.:
oo3ing at you how<
C".:
0he way you are.
MA.:
$ ain7t e4er seen you smile before, Charlie. $t7s
strange.
C".:
Shit, $ smile.
MA.:
$ guess. 1ou loo3 li3e the cat with the canary.
B?
C".:
)hat7s that su22osed to mean.
MA.:
(othing.
C".:
)hat does it mean<
MA.:
(othing. Don7t worry about it. $7m glad you got your
bi3e fi5ed.
C".:
1ou7re trying to say something.
MA.:
Don7t worry about it.
C".:
Cat and the canary, my ass.
!$.:
$s it going to be the same.
C".:
Jesus Christ, $ try to start things u2 on a better feel
and what do $ get.
RA.:
(obodies bothering you, Charlie. Just sit down.
C".:
$ don7t li3e it.
MA.:
$ didn7t mean anything by it.
C".:
0hen why7d you say it<
MA.:
$ don7t 3now. $t 6ust came out.
C".:
B@
)ell don7t do it, 6ust don7t. )hat the fuc3...
!$.:
Come on, Charlie.
C".:
So now you7re the 3ing of this 2lace. .ot slic3ed bac3
once and he7s 3ing. .ood thing it came to him. *therwise
he7d be wi2ing shit out of his co4eralls by now.
?
RA.#mo4ing towards Charlie&:
Charlie...
C".:
"e7s got to learn. A lot of 2eo2le learned the hard
way. 0hey went bac3 by themsel4es. "e got it easy. )as it
good, 3id< Real good< $ went bac3 there by myself, the first
time, and it was...
!$.:
0hat7s it. 0his is all there is. $ come bac3 and $ come
bac3 and it all stays li3e this, doesn7t it. Doesn7t itE
oo3 at me, Ral2hie. Don7t lie. Just loo3... is this it<
RA.:
!iece, $ can7t...
!$.:
0his is it.
C".:
Sure is.
!$.:
$s it, Ral2hie<
RA.:
$t ne4er is, and it is. $t can change, !iece. $t will.
i3e $ said before...
!$.:
"ell, Ral2hie. 1ou ain7t going south and $ ain7t e4er
=uitting my 6ob, and $7m going to come bac3 tomorrow and $7m
going to go through those curtains and $7m going to see it
again, and the ne5t day, the same thing. 1ou didn7t tell me
that. )hy didn7t you, Ral2hie< )hy<
BB
Because if that7s all there is $ wanted to 3now. $ got
years of this ahead of me. A million, a decade... Jesus,
Ral2hie. 0his is it. For you, for me, for e4erybody...
MA.:
!iece, 6ust sit down, honey. Come on, o4er here.
Ma5ine leads him to the table.
Charlie sits at the bar with
Ral2hie who 2ours another
drin3.
RA.:
$ was about twenty when $ came here the first time. $t
was different, then. *utside it was different and it was
different inside. Sometimes you 6ust come in to cool off. $
can lea4e, !iece. $ can, any time $ want. But $ don7t want
to. %4erything is here, and nothing hurts. $ don7t ha4e to
worry about a thing. Boss7ll come and Boss7ll go and that7s
all there is. !eo2le change e4ery time you come in.
Sometimes they go and sometimes they got bac3 there and
ne4er come bac3 out.
$ remember this one 3id, 0he Stic3, we called him. "is
real name was Joey 0rane. "is daddy was a bric3layer, hel2ed
build the church out at the edge of town. "e came in one
night when it was snowing.
Joey was a thin as a whi2 cane. )iry and always half
aslee2. And you could tell, there was something about him.
"e got bad things done to him. 0he way he wal3ed, the way he
mo4ed his hands. Maybe his Dad or maybe somebody else, but
he wasn7t =uite right. "e was about fourteen. And he came
here the first day loo3ing for a sandwich. $ made him one,
and this other woman who was here ga4e him some coffee. 0hen
he left. $ figured he came bac3 when $ wasn7t here because
last $ saw of him was his old ball9ca2, he was a !hillies
fan, sitting on that table. And sometimes, $ can hear church
music and $ 3now he7s bac3 there. 0hat7s how it is
sometimes. Sometimes you go bac3 there and you don7t come
out. *n account of how good it is.
But that lady who was here, who made the coffee, she
got a 6ob and left town. And someday, when it7s safe to go
bac3 out, $7ll be gone, 6ust li3e $ said. 1ou too, !iece.
1ou 6ust came here without 3nowing why or how. 1ou7re one of
the luc3y ones. $f you really 3new you had to come here,
you7d be real bad off, belie4e me.
BC
MA.:
"e7s right, !iece. 1ou7ll lea4e.
C".:
"ell...
RA.:
Charlie... watch that. Just ;cause you don7t ha4e any
faith.
C".:
Faith, hell. Real bad off if you 3now why you came. $
still don7t 3now why the hell $7m here, and $ ain7t e4er
going to lea4e. (e4er going to fi5 that chain, ne4er going
to get my shit out of my old lady7s 2lace. ong as $7m here,
and $7ll be here long, $7m out of luc3. Shit out of luc3,
!iece, sure.
See this 2lace< And the 2lace through that door< 0hat7s
all there is. 0here ain7t no 2lace better or worse. 0hin3
about it. Ain7t no 2lace at all where we can go. )e7re
stuc3. )e can go outside, but we come right bac3. Boss can7t
3ic3 us out, and we can7t ride away south or no shit li3e
that. (othing, !iece, nothing.
RA.:
0here ain7t no reason to say that, Ral2hie. 1ou7re 6ust
hurting him.
C".:
Best he 3nows, Ral2hie. .oing to 3ee2 him on, not
3nowing where he7s going or what he7s doing< Shit, Ral2hie.
0hat ain7t no way to li4e.
RA.:
1ou better lea4e.
C".:
(one of that, now. (one of that. Shit all o4er that.
RA.:
0his ain7t all it is. $t7s all there is right now.
)hat7s bac3 there, boyo, is what7s there is right now. *ne
day you7re going to wal3 out that door...
C".#building towards clima5&:
BD
(e4er. Jesus Christ, don7t lie to the 3id. (e4er, it
ain7t e4er going to ha22en. oo3 at me, Ral2hie, loo3 at me.
(othing. Came in here because of... because $7m li3e $ am.
1ou 3now that. And $ can7t e4er lea4e. (e4er. $7m going to
be li3e this, right here, as long as $ li4e. Ma5ine7s going
to be shooting the cra2 into her arm, right here, as long as
her 4eins hold out. 1ou7re going to be sitting on your
stool, tal3ing about the fuc3ing south and the fuc3ing west
and all the other ruts you wheeled yourself into, and it
ain7t e4er going to change. Fore4er, and e4er, and e4er,
amen, this is all there is, Ral2hie. 0his is all there is.
RA.:
.et out, Charlie. )e don7t need your mouth here.
C".:
.oing to 3ic3 me out<
RA.:
Boss7ll...
C".:
1ou 3now damn well Boss can7t touch me. "ell, he hardly
3nows we7re e4en here. Just that 2lace bac3 there, this
2lace, and us. 0hat7s all there is. Boss can7t do anything,
you can7t do anything... go ahead. Slug me.
.o on... Come on, Ral2hie, gi4e me a wallo2 that7ll
send me to your fuc3ing beach o4er in sun country.
RA.:
.et out.
!$.#2leadingly&:
)hat7s the matter, with you, Charlie.
C".:
*h Jesus...
Charlie turns and rears bac3,
his fist high behind his head.
0hen he throws the 2unch,
meeting s=uarely with !iece7s
6aw. !iece falls bac3wards,
BF
onto the table, and then onto
the floor.
*h Jesus... this 2lace is the closet thing to hell this
side of the Mississi22i.
1ou assholes don7t see it, it is...
Simultaneously, Ral2hie runs
to Charlie and Ma5ine runs to
!iece. Ral2hie 2ushes Charlie
u2 center, towards the door.
Ain7t going to do nothing. $7ll 6ust come right bac3
out.
(aw, that ain7t it. $ ain7t coming out if you touch me
again. $ won7t. $ don7t need your shit anymore, Ral2hie
boyo...
0ouch me, Ral2hie.
0ouch meE
Ral2hie 2ushes again, harder.
0he beads sway and their sound
is am2lifi@ed.
$7m going to be li3e your Stic3 boy, bac3 there. 1ou7re
going to hear church music for the rest of your fuc3ing
life. "ear me, Ral2hie. !ush one more time and you7ll hear
it.
0ouch meE

Ral2hie 2ushes again. Charlie
is engulfed by the beads and
lights fall e5ce2t on Ma5ine
and !iece, center.

MA.:
Come on, !iece. et7s dance. *ne last time. Come on,
!iece. )a3e u2... come on.
RA.#entering&:
"e7ll be *J. et him be...
MA.:
*ne last dance...
RA.:
et him be, girl.
BH
MA.:
)e7re going to dance...
ights fall com2letely.
Act $$, scene i4

Ma5ine and Ral2hie sit at the
bar. 0he .uitar !layer is in
2lace. "e tunes gently and
then starts into 8$7m So
onesome $ Could Cry.8 Ma5ine
is =uiet, da>ed as if she had
6ust been 8in the bac3.8
RA.:
She7ll be hitched in June or July. 0hen $7ll be a free
man.
MA.:
!iece7ll be by soon, won7t he.
RA.:
Around three.
MA.:
0hat7s right.
RA.:
0hen down to San Diego. 0hey got a nice >oo down there.
Doesn7t interest me much but $ might as well see it. Biggest
one in the world. And you 3now what $7m thin3ing< $7m
thin3ing $7m going to go to Disney. Just might. Don7t 3now
why, 6ust ha4e a han3ering to go to Disney. 0hin3 that7s a
good idea.
MA.:
Sure.
RA.:
But not to much of that greasy 3ids stuff, boyo. $7ll
be down 0ia6uana and Me5icali =uic3er7n you can cough,
that7s for sure. At night, boy, that7s the 2lace.
CI
%4erything7s lights, down there, and music. Mariachi, $
thin3 it7s called. !lay those marimbas and it sounds li3e a
thousand 2eo2le 2laying all at once. "ell of a nice 2lace,
down there. 0hree little tacos for a =uarter, friend of mine
told me. 0hey sell them right on the street. And a bottle of
te=uila or mescal to wash them down with. )hole bottles.
(one of these little shots.
MA.:
1ou hear something, Ral2hie.
RA.:
i3e what<
MA.:
(othing.
RA.:
!iece7ll be here soon.
MA.:
$ thought $ heard something.
RA.:
1ou 6ust wait and see, Ma5ine. *ne fine morning you7re
going to come in here and $7ll be long gone. 1ou won7t e4en
remember my name after a while, that7s how far $7ll be. $7ll
6ust be a ghost to you.
MA.:
Sure, Ral2hie. Sure.
Ma5ine wal3s to the center and
2arts the beads. 0he music
slowly sto2s and
ights fall.
0"% %(D
C,